Stella – POV
"Take a seat, my dear," Mom said, guiding me to a chair. My eyes were fixed on Dad.
"We took you in when your parents passed away, Stella. We couldn't have children, so we ensured you grew up surrounded by love. We love you as if you were our own," Dad said.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth about my parents? I need to know," I said, wiping tears.
"I was scared that if we told you the truth, you might never come to see us again," Mom replied. "Your parents were our neighbors and close friends; your mother was Lily. She was a sweet woman, a housewife. Your dad, Finn, worked as a police officer. They went to visit your grandma and left you with us. On their way back, they were in a car accident and didn't make it." I felt my heart clench with sorrow at her words. The truth weighed heavily in the air, and more tears streamed down my face. Taking a deep breath, I met the gaze of my adoptive parents.
"Why did you decide to kill my unborn?" I asked. "You both had no right."
"We believed it would be too difficult for you to bring a child into the world and be a single mother," Dad said.
"Still, you had no right to bribe the doctor and try to hurt my child. I'm not staying here. I'm going back to New York," I said, then walked to my room.
"I'm sorry, Stella. I shouldn't have done that," Dad said. But I didn't care. I quickly packed my clothes into a backpack, placed the bag in the car's trunk, and started the engine. Dad tried to stop me, and Mom pleaded for forgiveness, but I felt unsafe with them.
"Please, let me go," I begged. "I'm grateful for how you took me in and cared for me, but what you did—trying to harm my child—has made me feel like I can't trust you or be safe around you anymore. I'm sorry." I got into the car and drove off onto the snowy road. My mind raced. What if I found Kellan? I needed to ask him why he abandoned me. Perhaps I could stay in Alaska and search for answers. Julie, my only trustworthy and dear friend, had been abducted, leaving me even more isolated.
I decided to find a motel for shelter. I'd search for Kellan and confront him about why he left me in such pain and darkness. I drove to a nearby motel. As I walked to my room, an attendant brought my luggage. Once inside, I took several deep breaths, washed my face, and settled onto the couch.
I contemplated returning to that forest to find Kellan and get his answers. Then I wondered how he knew I was pregnant. Could he be watching me? If he's monitoring me, maybe I should put myself in a situation that makes it look like I'm in danger of drawing him out.
I planned to stroll at night in a secluded area. But it would be reckless to put both myself and my unborn child at risk. Lying on the bed, I let out a frustrated sigh. Another idea came to mind: returning to the forest to see if the mysterious part still exists. If I didn't find Kellan, maybe I'd resort to a riskier tactic. It was decided.
I freshened up, dressed, and drove to the forest since it was still afternoon, not yet dark. As I approached, officers were on the scene and advised me to turn around, declaring the dense forest off-limits due to two recent disappearances.
Disappointed, I redirected my car toward the motel. Midway, I detoured to the supermarket for snacks, having not eaten all day. Maybe I'd find Kellan there, possibly buy some groceries for him. I stumbled as I shopped and simultaneously searched my phone for a discreet local hospital. A strong hand caught me.
"Are you alright, Ms.?" I looked up into his unique amber eyes of a handsome man and nodded. The man before me was strikingly handsome, with brown hair and a chiseled jawline. It was difficult to look away, and I noticed others in the store stealing glances his way, too.
"I'm okay, thank you," I said.
"Call me Kayden," he responded with a warm smile.
"I'm Stella."
"Nice to meet you. Are you from Alaska?" Kayden inquired.
"Born and raised. It seems you're not a local?"
"I'm not. I'm from New York and am here on a solo trip," he replied as we moved to the checkout. "May I ask a favor? Would you mind showing me around? I know we're strangers, and I don't want to impose, but—"
"I'd be happy to show you around. I recently moved back to Alaska from New York myself." It was odd; I felt an inexplicable comfort around Kayden, even though we'd just met. After shopping, I returned to the motel and was startled to find a silhouette sitting on the couch.
Heather's POVKayden stepped out of the cozy wooden house, carrying dishes of food in both hands. He placed them carefully on the gazebo table, which was already beautifully set. My breath caught as I whispered, “Wow, you went to such lengths to prepare all this.”“I just want to impress you,” he muttered, his voice soft but sincere.I couldn’t help but smile as I glanced at the smoked, grilled salmon. My stomach growled in anticipation. Without waiting,I took a bite. The taste melted on my tongue.“Damn, you’ve really outdone yourself. It’s delicious! Are you secretly taking cooking lessons or something?” I teased, though my words were muffled by another bite.He remained quiet, a soft smile playing on his lips as he ate.“Really?” I pressed, surprised by his silence.“What?” He raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth lifting in amusement. “I can’t cook for my mate?”“There’s no need to go through so much trouble for me,” I said, dropping my gaze. “I’m not special…” The words tum
Heather's POVKayden stepped out of the cozy wooden house, carrying dishes of food in both hands. He placed them carefully on the gazebo table, which was already beautifully set. My breath caught as I whispered, “Wow, you went to such lengths to prepare all this.”“I just want to impress you,” he muttered, his voice soft but sincere.I couldn’t help but smile as I glanced at the smoked, grilled salmon. My stomach growled in anticipation. Without waiting,I took a bite. The taste melted on my tongue.“Damn, you’ve really outdone yourself. It’s delicious! Are you secretly taking cooking lessons or something?” I teased, though my words were muffled by another bite.He remained quiet, a soft smile playing on his lips as he ate.“Really?” I pressed, surprised by his silence.“What?” He raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth lifting in amusement. “I can’t cook for my mate?”“There’s no need to go through so much trouble for me,” I said, dropping my gaze. “I’m not special…” The words tum
Heather's POVI sat at the breakfast table, my stomach twisted into anxious knots, completely devoid of any appetite. Kayden wasn’t around, and the test results were due by evening. The waiting was unbearable. I hated lying in bed, doing nothing to occupy my restless mind. Instead, I busied myself reading about Raven and Xael powers—their strengths, their darker sides, and the terrifying extent. But even the book couldn’t hold my attention for long. Frustrated, I set it aside and stepped out of my room for a walk to clear my head.As I strolled the halls, I noticed a group of soldiers carrying crates filled with books.“Wait,” I called out, stopping them.They froze and turned to me. The scent hit me before I even reached the boxes—Colt’s scent. My monster brother’s lingering essence clung to the books like a haunting memory.“Where are these from?” I asked, narrowing my eyes as I reached for one of the books.“From Raven’s old base,” one soldier answered with a respectful nod.“Take
Heather’s POVTwo months have passed, and for the first time in what feels like forever, life feels calm. There’s a certain serenity in the air that soothes my restless soul. Stretching my arms above my head, I breathe in the crisp morning air before starting my yoga routine. The warm embrace of sunlight filters through the trees, and the soft breeze kisses my skin. Yoga has become my new ritual—a gentler path the doctor recommended after I had to step back from my usual intense training. It’s strange, but this peaceful morning rhythm makes me feel more grounded.After yoga, I head inside to shower and get ready for the day. Today’s agenda is simple yet important: spending time with the Pack members, checking progress, and ensuring the food we grow will sustain us through the harsh winter. With only five months before the cold season descends upon us, I need to make sure we’re prepared—no excuses. Winter here doesn’t just knock; it storms in, unrelenting and brutal.“Harris! Good morn
Kayden - POVI stood in the ruins of the Night Angel Pack building, deep in the heart of the human city. The air was thick with decay and a sense of foreboding. “What the hell did you drag me here for?” I snapped, my patience already worn thin.“Shut up and walk,” Damon growled, his usual temper flaring. He’d barely said a word during the entire ride, but his silence nowonly added to my unease. I wanted to text Heather, let her know I was in New York and would teleport back home as soon as this was over—but of course, my phone was dead. Typical.“How long is this going to take?” I asked, my frustration bubbling over.“Honestly? I don’t know,” Damon admitted, his tone clipped.“You mentioned coming to this place,” I pressed, trying to make sense of why we were standing in this desolate hellhole.“No, I didn’t,” he shot back. “I told Stella I was going on a business trip. That’s it.”I raised an eyebrow. “You’re a dead man if she finds out you’re here. Didn’t she nearly lose you the la
Kayden's -POV It had been a week since the war with the Ravens ended, but the aftermath still lingered. My soldiers were tirelessly combing through every lead, rounding up any Raven who might have malicious intentions. Each interrogation was aimed at uncovering the whereabouts of their elders—whether they were hiding or truly gone for good. Yet my thoughts weren’t just on the war. Heather weighed heavily on my mind. Her health had become my constant concern, as she’d been falling ill more often, fevers striking with alarming frequency.“Alpha, I’m tired,” Harris groaned beside me.I rubbed my tired eyes, feeling just as drained. “We have no Omega to help out. You’ll need to push through like the rest of us. No excuses.”“Alpha, we need a break. The soldiers need it too. If we keep working like this, people are going to collapse,” Harris argued, desperation clear in his voice.I sighed deeply, conceding. “Fine. Call a day off.”Harris’s face lit up as he nodded eagerly and left to spr